HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STREAM RESTORATION

& SPECIES RECOVERY

March 09, 2001 Hearing Room E

1:00 P.M. Tapes 55 - 56

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Bob Jenson, Chair

Rep. Jan Lee, Vice-Chair

Rep. Randy Leonard Vice-Chair

Rep. Tim Knopp

Rep. Jeff Kruse

Rep. Patti Smith

Rep. Carolyn Tomei

Rep. Kelley Wirth

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Al King

STAFF PRESENT: Sandy Thiele-Cirka, Committee Administrator

Linda K. Gatto, Committee Assistant

MEASURES/ISSUE HEARD:

Public Hearing

HB 2341

Work Session

HB 2683

Willamette Restoration Initiative (WRI) Strategic Review

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 55, A
004	Chair Jenson	Calls the meeting to order as a subcommittee at 1:00 p.m. and opens a public hearing on HB 2341.
HB 2341-PUBLIC HEARING
009	Roy Hemmingway	Governor’s Salmon and Energy Policy Advisor. Compares this bill to SB 49. Relates the governor’s position regarding the commission and agency administration.
070	Chair Jenson	Comments on the need to improve department communications. Closes the public hearing on HB 2341. Calls the meeting as a full committee and opens the work session on HB 2683.
HB 2683-WORK SESSION
086	Louise Solliday	Governor’s Assistant for Natural Resources. Relates the history of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Eco-System Restoration Project.
139	Solliday	Addresses Rep. Kruse’s question regarding the use of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) funds.
158	Rep. Leonard	Notes that the testimony tied the channel deepening and the estuary projects together.
198	Solliday	Comments that the initial biological opinion linked the estuary plan. Clarifies the project is not linked to channel deepening.
200	Rep. Leonard	Questions if the project, although separate and distinct, are related enough to be paid for and tied to the ACOE project.
203	Solliday	Responds that there will be specific guidelines directing the channel deepening project.
213	Rep. Lee	Questions if the Lower Estuary working group is supportive.
217	Solliday	Responds the group’s name is the Lower Columbia River Estuary Program Implementation Committee and they are supportive.
245	Rep. Kruse	Clarifies there are no Measure 66 funds being used for monitoring.
283	Solliday	Confirms and provides additional details.
330	Chair Jenson	Announces that this bill is being held over for further clarification.
353	Chair Jenson	Closes the work session on HB 2683 and opens the informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
358	Rick Bastasch	Executive Director, Willamette Restoration Initiative (WRI). (EXHIBIT A). Provides an overview of the strategic plan.
TAPE 56, A
002	Bastasch	Continues overview.
074	John D. Miller	Board Member, WRI. Comments on the WRI report and WRI objectives.
138	John McDonald	Board Member, WRI. Lists and discusses four values of WRI.
262	McDonald	Refers to Chapter 10, (EXHIBIT A). Concludes presentation.
312	Rep. Lee	Discloses that there are 28 watershed councils, 12 soil and water districts, and 24 water supplier local governments in the Willamette Basin. Recognizes support of WRI as a way to bring the groups together.
323	Rep. Wirth	Comments in support and questions how to bring the whole state together not just the Willamette Valley.
327	Bastasch	Comments that others areas of the state desire to pull together.
385	McDonald	Adds that every basin is different but some recommendations can be applied statewide.
TAPE 55, B
005	Rep. Wirth	Questions if WRI has submitted legislation.
009	Bastasch	Responds they have been working with Rep. Lee and Rep. Backlund on HB 3638.
016	Rep. Tomei	Questions what needs to come next.
018	Bastasch	Responds increasing communication with the legislature.
048	Miller	Articulates that the strategy needs to be implemented.
067	McDonald	Maintains the WRI process needs to be validated by legislative action.
087	Rep. Lee	Questions if the federal government has been supportive.
096	Bastasch	Responds that the federal government provided the start up funds for WRI. States the working relationship with the federal agencies is positive.
143	Rep. Kruse	Comments on the number of watershed councils in Oregon and the suggestion that WRI’s recommendations be implemented statewide.
191	McDonald	Clarifies that some of the recommendations may work in other basins. Gives SB 1010 as an example.
205	Rep. Kruse	Points out that the perception of WRI is that it is given preferential treatment.
243	Miller	States that WRI did not have legislative guidance from the onset.
285	Bastasch	Comments on the strengths of other groups and offers the report as a working document.
330	Rep. Lee	Notes that other basins have received assistance from the state.
360	Rep. Leonard	Summarizes how the regions of the state have different perspectives and focus.
TAPE 56, B
005	Rep. Kruse	Refers to (EXHIBIT B) as a conceptual vision of decision levels.
050	Chair Jenson	Inquires what primary focus the legislature can provide.
057	Miller	Responds feedback on the implementation strategy and funding.
068	McDonald	Responds he would like to see the authorization of WRI to continue.
096	Rep. Lee	Comments in support of HB 3038.
100	Bastasch	Comments that WRI seeks legislative counsel, merit, implementation, and the authorization to continue.
112	Chair Jenson	Closes informational meeting and adjourns the meeting at 2:45 p.m.

Submitted By, Reviewed By,

Linda K. Gatto, Sandy Thiele-Cirka

Committee Assistant Committee Administrator

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A. Willamette Restoration Initiative (WRI) Overview, Rick Bastasch, 230 pp.

B. Synopsis of Regional Conservation Bodies in Oregon, Rick Bastasch, 5 pp.